Knives Have been Left on Japanese Prince’s Faculty Desk, Police Say

TOKYO — Two knives had been left on the college desk of a 12-year-old Japanese prince, in line with the Tokyo police, who on Saturday had been investigating safety footage indicating that an grownup had trespassed onto college grounds.

The prince, Hisahito, is Emperor Akihito’s solely grandson, and entered the college, Ochanomizu College Junior Excessive Faculty in Tokyo, this month.

He was not within the classroom when the knives had been left there on Friday, across the time safety footage confirmed a person carrying a helmet getting into the college, Kyodo Information reported.

Prince Hisahito is quickly to grow to be second within the line of succession to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Naruhito, the prince’s uncle, is anticipated to ascendthe throne subsequent week, changing Akihito, 85, who would be the first Japanese monarch to step down in additional than two centuries. Ceremonies on Tuesday will mark the start of the brand new reign.

In honor of the brand new emperor, Japan will flip clocks again to Yr 1, honoring the custom that the calendar follows the reigns of emperors. Wednesday will mark the primary day of the primary yr of the age of Reiwa, as Emperor Naruhito’s reign might be identified.

Beneath present legislation in Japan, the oldest steady monarchy on the earth, solely males can succeed the emperor, who was as soon as revered as a demigod however now holds a symbolic operate. Many in Japan maintain Emperor Akihito in excessive regard for his help of pacifism and his efforts to deliver reconciliation with neighbors throughout Asia.

Public protest and hostility towards the royal household is uncommon in Japan. Regardless that there was opposition to the amount of cash spent on Akihito’s enthronement ceremony in 1990 ($58 million on the time) there was solely remoted violent opposition to his rule. Earlier than the ceremony, his brother’s dwelling was focused with a selfmade missile. One other missile was fired on the Imperial Backyard in Kyoto, the nation’s historic capital.

Earlier than he started lessons this month, Prince Hisahito informed reporters, “I wish to lead a satisfying life as a junior highschool scholar from now,” in line with the Asahi Shimbun.